[xythian]

Frontier charges you a router rental fee even if you don't physically possess the router. They'll waive the fee temporarily when you decline the router, but eventually it comes back and becomes immovable. The only way to get rid of the fee (that I've ever found) is to switch to a new account in the name of another person at the same address.

F$*# Frontier, I hope they enjoy bankruptcy!

[londons_explore]

Just send them a letter knowing about their mistake.

Then wait 6 years.

Then take them to small claims or arbitration, saying "look, I let them know about this 6 years ago and they still haven't refunded me".

You should win back all those fees easily, and after 6 years it might be enough to be worth doing.

[znpy]

This reminds me of that time I read about this LifeProTip: sometimes if you want to get something fixed yout should get the legal team involved instead of the support team.

The example was about some kind of elettrical switch having some wiring exposed. Letting the electric power company know about this via the usual means was unhelpful.

What was helpful was contacting the legal team via phone, let them know that the wiring was exposed and that it would have been a huuuuuuge liability if somebody got fried and after any kind of acknowledgment (even the smallest, even a simple "okay") on their side let them also know that the call was being recorded. Now the ball is in their field.

It's passive-aggressive, but (according to the story) that's what got the stuff fixed very soon.

[znpy]

Generally speaking, As an IT person, if somebody from the legal team comes and says "fix this issue immediately otherwise we're liable" or "shut X down immediately" then I do that. Unless somebody above me (and above my pay grade) says otherwise.

[npsomaratna]

You'd want to file your claim within a "reasonable time period." Undue delay will result in the court denying your claim.

What is "reasonable" is subjective. A couple of months would likely be considered reasonable; a couple of years, probably not.

[gccxsse]

So send them the same.letter every couple of months. When you are done using frontier, go get a refund

[chongli]

What happens if they decide to just pay your default judgement of $900 (or whatever it amounts to) and then ban you from being a customer of theirs for life? If they are the only broadband ISP in your area then what do you do?

[0xEFF]

They couldn’t because they’re a public utility in this situation.

[jandrese]

Who is going to stop them? The FCC? You think Ajit Pai is going to side with the customer on anything?

[chongli]

So then you sue them in order to get an injunction to restore service? But that is no longer in the realm of small claims court. That means they can bring in their corporate lawyers and tie you up in court for years. Suddenly your $900 windfall turns into a massive liability you can no longer afford.

[mbreese]

I think they'd only be a public utility with respect to phone service. For internet service, you'd probably be out of luck.

[Ididntdothis]

Have you actually tried this or do you know anybody who did this? I hear a lot of advice “just do X” but rarely the advice givers have tried it for themselves.

[inetknght]

A consumer shouldn't need to take a company to court. Most consumers don't have money for that, and all I've known don't have time for that.

[Retric]

I think most people would go to small clams court for 150 x6 = 900$.

[tzs]

Not for long: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/01/us-finally-prohi...

[Teknoman117]

So, how hard is this to get around for an ISP?

I've heard of a few that either charge you a modem rental fee or charge you a "self equipment support fee" that just happens to be identical to the equipment rental fee.